Monaghan
in Spring

A peaceful haven of rolling hills, glassy lakes and bustling market towns, Co Monaghan is one of Ireland’s hidden gems. And this county has one or two tricks up its sleeve too.
Sure, if it’s some quiet ‘me time’ that you seek, you’ll have endless opportunities for scenic walking, angling, horse riding or cycling far from crowds and hassle. But what about shaking it up a little with rally car driving in Scotstown, water skiing on Lake Muckno or quad biking across haphazard terrain in Inniskeen?
On the other hand, if the only driving you intend to do is off the tee, Monaghan has you covered too. Check out the picturesque parkland courses like Nuremore or Clones.
And when the fresh air choices have been exhausted, there is still plenty to do. How about a cookery class in Castle Leslie’s original Victorian kitchens, a browse around Monaghan County
Museum with an impressive 70,000 artefacts from the Stone Age to modern times, or a trip to the world-renowned Carrickmacross Lace Gallery? Did you know that lace from this region was used on Lady Diana’s wedding dress?
Another 'don’t miss', especially for anyone who remembers their leaving cert poetry, is a trip to Patrick Kavanagh Centre at Inniskeen, birthplace of the poet who famously watched “the bicycles go by in twos and threes”. Spend time in Monaghan, and you too will doubtless start to notice the beauty in “every blooming thing” in this wonderfully easygoing county.